Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-04-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
,IAI CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR
IVdsIinqtOn, -AprH I'M

III Tue clCF, Gdik0u oN6i pIclIlHlnarIeS.
visited the president, interviewed
Secretary Lamar, received their com
missions, took the oath of office, in
spected their temporary quarters,
took possession of them, elected their
chairman, and entered upon their
new duties.
So, what the country has long been
clamoring for is now an accomplished
fact. But while the new court will
be able to remedy some evils in cur
rent transportation methods, it is
pretty certain not to do so great an
amount of good as is anticipated
from it by all sorts of reformers who
think that everything can be regulated
by law.
The president of the commission is
Judge Cooley, a Michigan republican.
His election was predetermined. 1t
was understood by the other members
the president wanted him to be at the
head and they acquiesced in his choice
without discussion, admitting that
the Judge knew more about law and
railroad matters than all the others
put together.
As the board is now made up and
organized, lit consists of three dem
ocrats and two republicans, one OF
which is chairman) when it fails to
satisfy shippers-as it is almost Ger
tain to do-the democratic House can
divide the incoming grOwls with the
republican senate, and the democrat
ic majority of the commission can
plead that the work was directed by
a republican chairman. To appoint
a majority of republicans on the com
mission would have been a shrewd
move on the part of the president,
but the next wisest thing was to give
the republican party the management
of it and the responsibility attached.
Probably no appointment of Presi-
dent Cleveland's since the 4th of
March, 1885, has given more general
satisfaction than that of Mr.. Fair
child to be secretary of the treasury
1t is in the direct line too of civil
service refOrm-a promotion for real
merit. The new cabinet officer is
very popular at the Treasury Depart
ment as is also Judge Maynard, the
Second Comptroller, who takes the
place of Assistant Secretary. When
their promotions were authoritatively
announced these two officials were
overwhelmed with congratulations
The rush was so great that Mr.. Fair
child was forced to ask all callers to
| desist until certain hour, when both
gentlemen gave themselves up to
Misunderstanding with the hundreds of
employees of the Department.
Mrs. Frairchild, the wife of the
new secretary of the treasury, and
the first lady of the cabinet, is
quiet, cultivated lady, with retiring
and gracious manners, one whom it
will be pleasure to regard as lead
er. She is a niece of the late Gov
ernOr Seymour of New York, and the
family being in mourning, have not
gone much into society since they
came here. They live in a rather
modest house III the fashionable
West End, and Mrs. Fairchild re-
marked that it was not until recently
that they decided to keep it, not
knowing but that they would 90 out
of office with Secretary Manning
Notwithstanding the fact that the
marble halls and corridors of the
Capitol have been deserted by our
lawmakers for a month, the guides
about the building are doing a flour
ishing business. Visitors from all
parts Of the United States flock there
every day by the hundred. Before
the fiftieth congress begins its execu-
tive life the Capitol and grounds will
| present much grander appearance
than they have ever before possessed.
| Great changes for the better are in
| progress. The amount asked for this
purpose was S125, 900, but congress
decided that the present condition of
the Capitol approaches should be
remedied as quickly as possible, and
doubled the amount. The $3.50, 900
thus placed at the disposal of the
architect will enable him to have the
work entirely completed during the
summer
just beyond the beautiful plaza
which stretches eastward from the
Capitol, excavations and prepara-
tons are being made for the erection
of the new congressional library,
where the largest and most valuable
collection of books in the United
States are to be slowed away.
There are over 600, 900 volumes,
and it is commonly said that Mr..
Spofford, the librarian of congress,
knows something about the contents
of every volume in the library. A
congressman recently said ,facetiously,
81 don't read books, Il read Spofford.
If a senator or member wants quo
tation that is difficult to find or is of
obscure origin, he goes to MIR. Spot
ford. If he wants the best authority
on any subject, or, indeed, if he
wants to learn anything thai may be
found in any of thousands of volumes,
he goes to the same source.